The first full week of lockdown is over, and I’m over it. Hating the shops not being open or restaurants. I would like it to be December ASAP because it is taking all of my willpower not to get in the festive spirit too early. Come 1st December I’m all over it I have a shopping list as long as my arm and our living room is going to be like a grotto. I’ve still had some positives despite the lack of freedom so here goes for this week. 

I loved the virtual unveiling of Fenwicks window last Sunday night, especially the look back over past years. It has been going for so long and I remember being a kid going to see it each year. So nothings really changed as I was up in town for the food hall on Tuesday so went for a look. Wind in the Willows is lovely, very wintery and you can see more pics and my thoughts here. Still doesn’t beat Paddington though…

I also got myself a hot chocolate from Starbucks Christmas range while up there, and I have to be honest as much as I love the novelty of red cup season it just wasn’t as good as Costa’s chocolate orange one. I’ve also been making my own this week and making them quite extravagant with cream, marshmallows, chocolate sauce, flakes and the occasional shot of Baileys. I’m on the look out for a chocolate orange flavour mix to make at home as those £3.50’s are racking up. 

Being in Newcastle definitely contributed to my festive excitement. It’s such a shame the Christmas markets are cancelled this year, but it will be what we make of it and I’ve put together this post on things what will happen in Newcastle when lockdown 2 ends – a Christmas edition.

On Tuesday I worked with Nudo Sushi and used their new website to order a takeaway for tea. They’ve launched a new website for collection and delivery in certain postcodes and as always the food was amazing. It’s my favourite for takeaway sushi as it’s always so fresh, a lot nicer than the tiny plastic supermarket boxes you get. For 10% off at the moment on orders with a minimum spend of £12 use code LAUNCH10. A healthier takeaway but so good. 

Seen as it’s all we can really do at the moment I took Arthur for walks to Tynemouth and The Rising Sun on the brighter days this week. It was lovely to catch up with a friend and we had hot chocolates from front street while wandering along the coast. 

On Friday I joined the three course cook along ran by Mill House pub in Birtley. They’re doing it weekly and they prepare all the ingredients for you to collect, and they they do a cook along live on Facebook to talk you through cooking it. I wasn’t sure what it would be like but it was brilliant, such a good laugh as the two lads were basically on the wine, and it was a nice way to support a local pub. 

The food was exceptional, a baked Camembert in olive bread, followed by fillet steak with garlic butter and chips, and sticky toffee pudding with sauce and ice cream for desert. It was really good I’d definitely do it again, make sure you get a bottle of wine or two in for it as you end up drinking along with them. 

I have again been watching plenty of TV and Netflix, this week I’ve watched all off the Queens Gambit which was surprising how good it was, we began The Undoing on Sky with Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant which is really good, and we are mid way through Ratched. It’s a bit weird but also quite good. I can’t wait for season 4 of The Crown and I’m a Celebrity starting today. At least we have some good telly this lockdown. 

It’s a chilled Sunday for us, I’m going to try get some episodes of The Crown in before the bloody golf starts again. Have a good week!